(Sparse acoustic guitar)
Verse 1
You’d leave your boots beside the door,
I’d leave mine somewhere down the hall.
We learned to measure love in silence,
Counting cracks instead of calls.
Every kitchen turned to courtroom,
Every bedroom to a war.
Still we’d swear the house was standing
While the smoke crawled through the floor.
Pre-Chorus
You reached for my hand—
I reached for the blame.
Somehow we both
Forgot our own names.
CHORUS – SCREAMED
I’M TIRED OF BUILDING HOMES FROM MATCHES!
TIRED OF PATCHING HOLES WITH FIRE!
WE KEEP CALLING THIS FOREVER
WHILE WE DRAG EACH OTHER THROUGH THE WIRE!
YOU SAY “HOLD ON!”
I SAY “LET GO!”
BOTH OF US ARE DROWNING JUST TOO STUBBORN TO KNOW!
WE’RE A HURRICANE SPINNING IN A DEAD-END SKY—
LOVING EACH OTHER WHILE WE LEARN HOW TO DIE!
(Mandolin and stomping beat enter)
Verse 2
There were mornings full of laughter,
Coffee cold and windows bright.
Then a single sideways comment
Could erase the morning light.
Every olive branch was sharpened,
Every apology delayed.
We became two frightened strangers
Hiding in the vows we made.
Pre-Chorus
You swore you’d stay.
I swore it too.
Funny how promises
Break people in two.
CHORUS – SCREAMED
I’M TIRED OF BUILDING HOMES FROM MATCHES!
TIRED OF PATCHING HOLES WITH FIRE!
WE KEEP CALLING THIS FOREVER
WHILE WE DRAG EACH OTHER THROUGH THE WIRE!
YOU SAY “HOLD ON!”
I SAY “LET GO!”
BOTH OF US ARE DROWNING JUST TOO STUBBORN TO KNOW!
WE’RE A HURRICANE SPINNING IN A DEAD-END SKY—
LOVING EACH OTHER WHILE WE LEARN HOW TO DIE!
(Everything drops to acoustic and vocal only)
Bridge
Maybe love isn’t enough
When pride sleeps beside it.
Maybe scars don’t disappear
Just because we hide them.
Maybe all this noise
Is two scared hearts screaming,
Afraid that if the fighting ends…
There’ll be nothing left to believe in.
(Band erupts into distorted guitars and gang vocals)
BREAKDOWN – SCREAMED
RIP THE WALLS DOWN!
TEAR THE PICTURES OFF!
LEAVE THE BROKEN GLASS TO TELL US WHAT WE LOST!
EVERY “I’M SORRY!”
EVERY SLAMMED DOOR!
EVERY SWEET KISS LYING FACE-DOWN ON THE FLOOR!
WE WERE NEVER SAINTS!
WE WERE NEVER THIEVES!
JUST TWO WOUNDED SOULS WITH HOLES IN OUR SLEEVES!
AND I’D STILL RUN BACK—
YEAH, I’D STILL IGNITE—
TO BURN BESIDE YOU ONE MORE NIGHT!
Final Chorus – SCREAMED WITH GANG VOCALS
WE KEEP BUILDING HOMES FROM MATCHES!
KEEP MISTAKING SMOKE FOR LIGHT!
CALLING EVERY BATTLE LOVE,
CALLING EVERY WOUND A FIGHT!
IF THIS IS THE HILL WE CHOSE TO DIE ON,
WRITE OUR NAMES IN CHARCOAL BLACK!
’CAUSE EVERY TIME I FINALLY LEAVE—
I HEAR YOUR FOOTSTEPS…
AND I TURN RIGHT BACK.
(Ends with lone acoustic guitar and whispered final line)
We never stopped loving…
We just forgot how.
